Maine natural disasters & FEMA declarations
ME · 32nd most declarations of 51 states/DC
Maine has had 71 federally declared disasters since 1954, the 32nd most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (25 declarations, about 35% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), on May 24, 2024.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Maine, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm | 25 | 35% |
| Flood | 16 | 23% |
| Snowstorm | 12 | 17% |
| Hurricane | 6 | 8% |
| Coastal Storm | 3 | 4% |
| Biological | 3 | 4% |
| Fire | 2 | 3% |
| Fishing Losses | 2 | 3% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Freezing | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 52 |
| Emergency (EM) | 17 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 2 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Maine's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 1 |
| 1970s | 7 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 15 |
| 2000s | 25 |
| 2010s | 8 |
| 2020s | 12 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | DR-4785-ME |
| Mar 20, 2024 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4764-ME |
| Jan 30, 2024 | Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4754-ME |
| Sep 14, 2023 | Hurricane Lee | Hurricane | EM-3598-ME |
| Sep 6, 2023 | Severe Storm And Flooding | Flood | DR-4737-ME |
| Sep 5, 2023 | Severe Storm And Flooding | Flood | DR-4736-ME |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Maine
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Maine in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Maine had?
Maine has had 71 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1954, the 32nd most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Maine?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Maine is "Severe Storm", with 25 declarations — about 35% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Maine?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Maine in this snapshot was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), declared May 24, 2024.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18